Find a bluebonnet oasis at Muleshoe Bend

Find a bluebonnet oasis at Muleshoe Bend

Muleshoe Bend Recreation Area looks like a scene out of a fairytale. Bluebonnets span the entire park, which runs along the south side of the Colorado River on western Lake Travis.

The gentle shoreline greets the field of blue. At a certain angle, it’s hard to tell the difference between the water and the wildflowers.

Bluebonnets are fickle flowers: They like a wet fall and a cold winter. If everything goes according to plan, they thrive in the springtime. Because of our warm winter, the bluebonnets made an early appearance this year.

I spoke with Julie Marcus, a senior horticulturist at Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, about this year’s bluebonnets at the park.

“I can’t predict what the wildflower forecast will be like.” Marcus explained, “If the weather stays mild, the bluebonnets will stay around.”

While it is difficult for even a senior horticulturist to promise the lifespan of a bluebonnet, take advantage of the remaining time you have left to see the bluebonnets in bloom and visit Muleshoe Bend, where the beautiful state flower is flourishing.

Don’t pull over on the side of the road or trespass on private property for a bluebonnet photoshoot. Pack a picnic and take the whole family for an afternoon at the park.

Muleshoe Bend is a wildflower wonderland. Photo by JoAnna Kopp

Keep basic bluebonnet etiquette in mind: Follow a path that has already been made and to sit on flowers that have already been flattened. Don’t create a new path and trample more flowers.

Once inside Muleshoe Bend, there are plenty of spots to pull over and venture into the field of flowers. There is ample space to explore the park, so you should have no worries about strangers photobombing your pictures. In addition to a photo session, you can also enjoy 6½ miles of hiking, equestrian and mountain-biking trails. There are also sites for tent camping if you wish to stay for more than an afternoon. Secure your campsite at lcra.org/reserve.

Muleshoe Bend is located at 2820 CR 414 in Spicewood. Call (512) 473-3366 or visit the website for more information.